'It's a massive milestone for the club and we're part of that' - Fairview Rangers gearing up for SFAI National Cup Final
The Fairview Rangers U15 side will face St Kevin's of Dublin in the decider in Kilkenny on Sunday
LIMERICK'S Fairview Rangers are gearing up for a historic SFAI National Cup showdown with St Kevin's of Dublin on Sunday at 1PM.
The competition started last summer with almost 300 teams taking part. Fairview's journey in the competition has seen them travel all over the country to reach this weekend's decider, as manager Wes Fitzgerald explains.
"We started out back in August, with roughly 300 teams taking part across the country, it's like a huge FA Cup. We've played seven rounds to get to the final.
"We've won comfortably in the first few rounds because there tends to be a few of the weaker teams in those first few rounds.
"Our journey has taken us all over the country. We have faced Fenit, Listowel, we have been in Fermoy and we've even gone as far as Inny in Westmeath who are the champions from last year.
"We've played six away fixtures to date in the competition so travelling is not too much to us at this stage," he said.
Fairview, who face St Kevin's in the final, are no strangers to Dublin-based opposition having overcome Leicester Celtic in the semi-final in the capital and coming out on top in what was a 2-0 win at Damien Duff Park.
Fairview face St Kevin's at Evergreen FC in Kilkenny in what will be one of five finals taking part on the day.
"In the semi-final we beat Leicester Celtic in Dublin three weeks 2-0 ago which has landed us in the final against St Kevin's. We don't know much about St Kevin's, we tend to arrive on the day and take it from there."
Fitzgerald paid tribute to both the coaching staff and players as the final approaches.
"I've got three fantastic coaches who prepare the players very well and the kids adapt and listen which is brilliant.
"This bunch of lads have been together since they were about six or seven. One or two have joined since then but we've been very competitive against the likes of Pike Rovers and Aisling Annacotty in that age group the last few years.
"There are a great bunch of kids and the parents involved have been fantastic as well. It's the first time that Fairview have been involved in a SFAI schoolboy final.
"They have won plenty of senior finals but they have never been in an underage final which is a huge thing for them, it's a huge milestone and hopefully we get over the line.
"The match kicks off at 1PM, so we plan to head away early Sunday morning in and around 8:30/9AM and relax on the way up.
Fitzgerald was again keen to pay homage to the group of players that have battled their way to a SFAI National Cup Final.
"We had a chat with the lads on Wednesday night just to tell them how proud we are of them. They're grounded, they don't get too tangled up in it, they know what they have to do and what is expected of them.
"We have two of our players who were in with Ireland last year but they don't go around the place acting like they were playing with Ireland, they're playing with their friends which is so important, they are with each other so long now and they get on so well."
Whilst excitement levels are at an all time high, Fitzgerald admits that he's 'just anxious to play the game' at this stage.
"We're just anxious to get up there now and play the game. Whatever way it goes is the way it'll go but it's very exciting times now. The bunting has gone up and the supporters bus is filling up.
"There's a lot of noise around the place but it's good noise. It's a massive milestone for the club and we're part of that. Hopefully we can bring the cup home and make a small bit of history for the club as well," he concluded.